Men They Couldn't Hang - The Ironmasters

Oh this is an old story that's rarely ever told 
the raping of the country, of the valley 
the men who came to reap with a musket and a bible 
they wanted to take the valley 
the valley! the valley! 
they wanted to take the valley 
and oh the ironmasters, they always get their way 

and so far a pittance all the people worked the land 
all the men and the women and the children 
and on sundays it was down to the chapel in the town 
the preacher said give generously! 
give generously! give generously! 
the people they gave generously 
and oh the ironmasters, they always get their way 

the union met in secret on the dark side of the hill 
by the light of a thousand candles 
their pay had been cut, all the people come on out 
and by scores they were joining Rebecca 
Rebecca! Rebecca! 
the people were joining Rebecca 
and oh the ironmasters, they always get their way 

riot! 

ironmaster, call the army 
call the hungry from the irish sea 
ironmaster, call the parliament 
it's no sin to fight to be free! 

from the smokey stacks of merthyr 
to the hills of Ebbw vale 
from Swansea docks to Merseyside and Liverpool 
with the union leaders crushed 
and the union quickly smashed 
they blackend the face of the country 
the country! the country! 
they blackend the face of the country 
and oh the ironmasters, they always get their way 

now on a hill in Brecon is Crawshay's ruined house 
and it blackens out the green of the valley 
and on the battered grave is the epitaph they gave 
it stands there, god forgive him! 
forgive him! forgive him! 
and all who rot in hell with him 
and oh the ironmasters, they always get their way 

riot! 

ironmaster, call the army 
call the hungry from the irish sea 
ironmaster, call the parliament 
it's no sin to fight to be free! 

and oh the ironmasters, they always get their way 
and oh the ironmasters, they still get their way!